SoCal NHL Preview

Anaheim (42-25-8) at San Jose (44-21-9), 7:00 pm

SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) - The San Jose Sharks are the hottest team in the NHL, but success against the Anaheim Ducks has been hard to come by. The Sharks are 13-0-1 in their last 14 games and are the second team in the league to clinch a playoff berth.

San Jose, now in second place in the Western Conference, has not lost a game in regulation since a 3-2 loss at New Jersey on February 20. Sharks' goaltender Evgeni Nabokov is 42-20-8 on the season with a 2.15 goals-against average. Nabokov has a 1.92 GAA versus the Ducks in five games, but only has one victory to show for it. Center Torrey Mitchell has four goals against Anaheim this season.

The defending Stanley Cup champion Ducks have also been playing well of late, posting a 15-3-1 record in their last 19 games to move into fourth place in the West. Anaheim has won three straight, including a 2-1 victory at Dallas on Wednesday. Right wing Corey Perry has three goals against the Sharks. Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere is 5-0-1 with a 1.44 goals-against average versus San Jose.